The incident took place when the Imphal-bound tourist bus fell into a gorge located between Maram and Makhan villages along the Imphal-Mao sector of the National Highway 2.

The bus was heading towards Imphal when it fell into the stream at the site, located about 65 km from the state capital.(HT Photo)

At least 9 people, including a woman, were killed and some others seriously injured when the bus in which they were travelling plunged into a deep gorge in Manipur’s Senapati district early on Monday.

The incident took place when the Imphal-bound tourist bus fell into a gorge located between Maram and Makhan villages along the Imphal-Mao sector of the National Highway 2, about 90 km north of Imphal around 3am, reports said.

Eight people lost their lives on the spot while one succumbed to injuries on their way to the hospital.

Some of the injured were admitted to the Senapati District Hospital, which is the nearest health care centre, while 7 others were brought to Regional Institute of Medical Sciences in Imphal.

According to sources in the hospital, the death toll is likely to go up as the condition of some the injured is serious.

Police sources said that the cause of the accident is being ascertained. They added that a case has been registered at Mao Police station and an investigation is on.

“All possible help will be extended from my side and the government,” chief minister N Biren Singh said in a post on Facebook.

Singh is in New Delhi to make a courtesy call on President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior Union ministers after becoming the first Bharatiya Janata Party CM.